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Beauty Fix: Two tricks for saying goodbye to cellulite and more answers to your beauty questions

Every week our Beauty Fix columnist takes on your questions about makeup, skincare, hair and more. Have a beauty question we haven’t answered? Email us at beautyfix@fashionmagazine.com.

Are there any products out there that actually do get rid of cellulite? Or even the appearance of it?
This is a very common question that I’m certain many women want to know the answer to, especially this time of year. To put it simply, there is no technical way to get rid of cellulite. There are products and methods that can reduce the appearance of cellulite, but nothing will magically make cellulite disappear. I know, I know, that’s a lot of real talk to take in. That being said, working to reduce the appearance of cellulite is always worth a shot, right? Start in the shower by using Bliss FatGirlSlim Soap ($22, sephora.com), which is a nubby soap bar that contains caffeine, peppermint and grapefruit extracts to stimulate circulation and jojoba beads to exfoliate skin. Follow up with Clarins High Definition Body Lift ($68, sephora.com), a body treatment lotion that contains caffeine and patent-pending breakthrough ingredients Celosia Cristata Extract and Aquatic Mint Extract, which are plant extracts that target fatty tissue from developing cellulite in the first place. Ultimately, stimulation of the area is essential to tackling cellulite woes.

Kohl eyeliner is one of my favourite things to wear, but it doesn’t seem to stay put on my lids. What gives?
The best and worst feature of kohl eyeliner (typically in pencil format) is that it is extremely soft, blendable and downright smudgy, which can produce a variety of gorgeous effects when applied. The challenge lies in the way kohl liner doesn’t always set on the lid, causing the perfect conditions for pigment migration. You’ll also notice migration is a concern when using kohl liner on the waterline, as it eventually moves from the waterline to the lower lashline. Instead of nixing the idea of kohl pencils entirely, check out Rimmel ScandalEyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal Eyeliner ($7, at drugstores), which is a kohl eyeliner formula that is waterproof without sacrificing softness and blendability. Typically, waterproof eye pencils tend to be dry and drag on the skin, but not these liners! These pencils are a treat to use, as they’re a creamy texture that glides on with absolute ease.

I’ve been increasing my gym time for the summer season and seem to have some body breakouts cropping up. How can I address these?
Even with the increase in high-tech fabrics that work to wick away moisture and keep the skin as dry as possible during exercise, the body can still produce sweat and sebum that gets trapped on occasion and produces a breakout where you don’t expect it. The chest, back and glutes are actually all common areas to experience the odd breakout, but don’t fear if your normal body wash isn’t keeping the situation under control. Enlist a clay-based product, such as Fresh Umbrian Clay Treatment Bar ($44, sephora.com) to reign in the oil production in blemish-prone areas. Instead of immersing the soap in water, increase its shelf life by wetting a small surface area of the bar—then rub to get some of the clay onto your hands to apply to the affected areas. The Umbrian clay eliminates dead skin cells, combats clogged pores and purifies the skin. Bonus: it can be used on both your face and body!

What is keratin? I keep seeing it in hair products!
Keratin is actually the main fibrous protein that forms our hair. Since it’s so integral to our hair’s health, keratin has found its way into many hair products that deal with damaged hair, generally brought on by colour treatment, overprocessing and heat styling. If you’re looking to reverse extreme damage to hair, look for a treatment such as Pantene Advanced Keratin Repair 60 Second Therapy Ampoules ($14, well.ca). The contents of each ampoule coats hair, depositing a protective layer that leaves each strand feeling incredibly hydrated and repaired, making it an excellent deep conditioning treatment. It’s important to note that while adding keratin back to the hair is essential to balance out any damage that’s been inflicted to the hair, too much keratin can cause hair to become brittle and break, so keratin-fueled products should be used in moderation.

Are base coat and top coat actually necessary for a manicure?
In some instances, I can understand skepticism about how necessary certain products are, but in this moment, I must insist—yes, a base coat and top coat are essential to any manicure that lasts long and wears well! A base coat, such as Jin Soon Power Coat ($22, sephora.com), is crucial to protect your nails from the polish colour. This formula is actually a strengthening base coat thanks to biotin, diamond particles, and methiopeptide (an amino acid from keratin), which is all welcomed for total nail health. Top coat is a bit of a no-brainer if you’re looking for high-gloss shine and reduced tip wear and chipping of your polish. Try Jin Soon Top Gloss ($22, sephora.com) because it’s a quick-drying formula that isn’t goopy or difficult to work with at all. More importantly, this top coat works to form a single, solid bond through the polish layers to the base coat, which will help your manicure last longer. These work in conjunction brilliantly, and both the base coat and top coat formulas are 5-free, meaning they contain no formaldehyde, toluene, DBP, formaldehyde resin and camphor.